Touch panel and touch device including the same

ABSTRACT

A touch panel includes a substrate, a sensing electrode on the substrate, wires to electrically connect the sensing electrode, a first ground electrode between the sensing electrode and the wire, and an overlap area where the first ground electrode overlaps with the sensing electrode. A touch panel of another embodiment includes a substrate on which an active area and an unactive area are defined, a sensing electrode on the active area, a wire disposed on the unactive area to electrically connect the sensing electrode, and a first ground electrode provided on the active area between the sensing electrode and the wire.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation Application of prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/496,111 filed Apr. 25, 2017, which is aContinuation Application of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 14/688,129filed Apr. 16, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,665,210 issued May 30, 2017),which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2014-0046051 filed on Apr. 17, 2014, whose entire disclosures arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The embodiment relates to a touch panel and a touch device including thesame.

2. Background

A touch panel is installed on a display surface of an image displaydevice such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD),a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), and anelectro-luminescence device (ELD), so that a user inputs predeterminedinformation into an electronic appliance by pressing the touch panelwhile viewing the image display device. In such a touch panel, electricsignal interference may occur due to static electricity or ESD, so thatthe accuracy of touch is deteriorated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel according to theembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a touch panel according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 4 to 7 are sectional views of a touch panel according to anotherembodiment.

FIGS. 8 to 10 are views to explain various types of touch panelsaccording to the embodiment.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are views showing a touch device including a touch panelcoupled with a display panel according to the embodiment.

FIGS. 14 to 17 are views showing examples of touch devices employing atouch panel according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a touch panel according to the embodiment mayinclude a sensing electrode 300, a wire electrode 400, and a firstground electrode 510 provided over a substrate and may further include aprinted circuit board 700.

The substrate 100 may include an active area A where light passesthrough and an unactive area UA around the active area A where lightdoes not pass through. The active area AA signifies an area throughwhich a touch instruction of a user may be input and the unactive areaUA, which is contrary to the active area AA, is not activated even if auser touches the unactive area UA, so the unactive area UA signifies anarea through which any touch instructions cannot be input.

The substrate 100 may be flexible or rigid. For example, the substrate100 may include glass or plastic. In detail, the substrate 100 mayinclude chemically tempered glass, such as soda lime glass oraluminosilicate glass, plastic, such as polyimide (PI), polycarbonate(PC), COP film or COC film, or sapphire.

A sapphire substrate has superior electric characteristics, such aspermittivity, so that a touch response speed may be remarkably increasedand a space touch, such as hovering, may be easily implemented. Thesapphire substrate has high surface hardness, so the sapphire may beused for a cover substrate. The hovering signifies a technique ofrecognizing coordinates even at a short distance from a display.

The substrate 100 may be bendable to have a partial curved surface. Inother words, the substrate 100 is bendable such that a portion of thesubstrate has a flat surface and another portion of the substrate has acurved surface. An end portion of the substrate 100 may be bent with acurved surface or may be curved or bent with a surface having a randomcurvature.

The substrate 100 may be a cover substrate. An additional coversubstrate may be disposed on the substrate 100.

A printing layer 200, the sensing electrode 300 and the wire 400 may bedisposed on one surface of the substrate 100. The printing layer 200 maybe formed on the unactive area UA. The printing layer 200 may extendalong an edge of the substrate 100. The printing layer 200 may be formedthrough one-color printing, two-color printing or three-color printing.The printing layer 200 may be formed by coating black ink or white inkaccording to the desired outer appearance thereof. The printing layer200 may prevent the wire 400, which will be described later, from beingviewed from the outside. In addition, a pattern may be formed on theprinting layer 200 to realize a desired logo.

The sensing electrode 300 and the wire 400 may be disposed on thesubstrate 100. The sensing electrode 300 may include a driving electrodeto transmit a signal and a receiving electrode to receive a signal. Forthe purpose of convenience, the driving electrode and the receivingelectrode together will be called the sensing electrode for sensing atouch position. The sensing electrode 300 may be disposed on the activearea AA and the wire 400 may be disposed on the unactive area UA.

The sensing electrode 300 may include a conductive material or atransparent conductive material. For example, the sensing electrode 300may include metal oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zincoxide (IZO), copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, or titanium oxide. Thesensing electrode 300 may be also a nanowire, a photosensitive nanowirefilm, carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, or conductive polymer. Thesensing electrode 300 may be also comprised of various metals. Forinstance, the sensing electrode 300 may include at least one of Cr, Ni,Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, Au, Ti and an alloy thereof.

The sensing electrode 300 may be aligned in the form of a mesh. Forexample, the sensing electrode 300 may include a plurality ofsub-electrodes which cross each other in the form of a mesh. The sensingelectrode 300 may include mesh lines and mesh openings between the meshlines due to the sub-electrodes which cross each other in the meshshape. The mesh line may have a line width in the range of about 0.1 μmto about 10 μm. If the mesh line has a line width less than 0.1 μm itmay not be possible to form the mesh line through the manufacturingprocess. If the mesh line has a line width above 10 μm, the electrodepattern may be viewed from the outside so the visibility may bedeteriorated. The line width of the mesh line may be in the range ofabout 1 μm to about 5 μm. The line width of the mesh line may be also inthe range of about 1.5 μm to about 3 μm.

The mesh opening may have various shapes. For instance, the mesh openingmay have various shapes such as a polygonal shape including arectangular shape, a diamond shape, a pentagonal shape or a hexagonalshape, or a circular shape. In addition, the mesh opening may have aregular shape or a random shape.

Since the sensing electrode 200 has the mesh shape, it is possible tohide the pattern of the sensing electrode 200 on the active area AA,e.g., the display area. Even if the sensing electrode 200 is formed ofmetal, the pattern may not be viewed. In addition, even if the sensingelectrode 200 is applied to a large-size touch panel, the resistance ofthe touch panel may be lowered.

The touch panel according to the embodiment may have various structuresdepending on the position of a first sensing electrode 310 and a secondsensing electrode 320. For example, the first sensing electrode 310 andthe second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed on the same surface ofthe substrate 100. The first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed onone surface of the substrate 100 and the second sensing electrode 320may be disposed on the other surface of the substrate 100.

Further, the first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed on one surfaceof a substrate formed on the substrate 100 and the second sensingelectrode 320 may be disposed on the other surface of the substrateformed on the substrate 100. Although FIG. 1 shows the first sensingelectrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 disposed on the samesurface of the substrate 100, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

The sensing electrode 300 may include the first sensing electrode 310,the second sensing electrode 320 and a bridge electrode 330. The firstsensing electrode 310, the second sensing electrode 320 and the bridgeelectrode 330 may include the same material or mutually differentmaterials. The first sensing electrode 310, the second sensing electrode320 and the bridge electrode 330 may be disposed on the same surface ofthe substrate 100.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 maybe insulated from each other on the substrate 100. The first sensingelectrodes 310 may extend in one direction while being connected witheach other and the second sensing electrodes 320 may include a pluralityof unit electrodes spaced apart from each other.

For example, the first bridge electrode 330 may be disposed on onesurface of the substrate 100, a first insulating layer 350 may bepartially disposed on the first bridge electrode 330 and the firstsensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 may bedisposed on the first insulating layer 350. On the first insulatinglayer 350, the first sensing electrodes 310 may be connected with eachother and the second sensing electrodes 320 may be spaced apart fromeach other.

The first insulating layer 350 may be disposed on connection parts ofthe first sensing electrodes 310 and on a portion of the second sensingelectrodes 320 and the bridge electrode 330 may be disposed on the firstinsulating layer 350 to connect the second sensing electrodes 320, sothat the second sensing electrodes 320, which are spaced apart from eachother, may be electrically connected with each other. The second sensingelectrodes 320 may extend in a direction different from an extensiondirection of the first sensing electrodes 310 by the first bridgeelectrode 330.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 maybe insulated from each other on the same surface of the substrate 100without making contact with each other. The first bridge electrode 330,for example, may be aligned in the form of a bar. The first bridgeelectrode 330 may be aligned in the form of bars spaced apart from eachother on the active area AA. The first bridge electrode 330 may connectthe second sensing electrodes 320 which will be described later.

The first insulating layer 350 may be disposed on the first bridgeelectrode 330. In detail, the first insulating layer 350 may bepartially disposed on the first bridge electrode 330. For example, whenthe first bridge electrode 330 is aligned in the form of a bar, thefirst insulating layer 350 may be disposed on the first bridge electrode330 except for one end and the other end of the first bridge electrode330, that is, both ends of the first bridge electrode 330.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 maybe disposed on the active area AA to serve as sensors for sensing thetouch. The first sensing electrode 310 may extend in one direction onthe active area AA and the second sensing electrode 320 may extend in adirection different from an extension direction of the first sensingelectrode 310. One of the first sensing electrode 310 and the secondsensing electrode 320 may transmit a signal and the other may receive atouch signal. One of the first sensing electrode 310 and the secondsensing electrode 320 may be disposed on the first insulating layer 350and the other may be connected to both ends of the bridge electrode 330.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the first sensing electrodes 310 may bedisposed on the first insulating layer 350 and the second sensingelectrodes 320 may be connected to both ends of the bridge electrode 330so that the second sensing electrodes 320 may be electrically connectedwith each other. Due to the bridge electrode 330 and the insulatingmaterial, the first sensing electrode 310 and the second sensingelectrode 320 may be electrically connected with each other withoutbeing short-circuited.

A first wire 410 connected to the second sensing electrode 320 may bedisposed on the unactive area UA of the substrate 100. In addition, asecond wire 420 connected to the first sensing electrode 310 may bedisposed on the unactive area UA of the substrate 100. The first wire410 and the second wire 420 may include conductive material. The firstwire 410 and the second wire 420 may include metallic material, such asAg or Cu.

The first wire 410 and the second wire 420 may be electrically connectedto the printed circuit board 700, respectively. The first wire 410 andthe second wire 420 may transfer the touch signal sensed by the firstsensing electrode 310 and the second sensing electrode 320 to theprinted circuit board 700 on which a drive chip 710 is mounted, so thatthe touch operation may be performed. For example, the printed circuitboard 700 may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

The first ground electrode 510 may be disposed adjacent to the wire 400.The first ground electrode 510 may be disposed between the sensingelectrode 300 and the wire 400. The first ground electrode 510 may bedisposed on an area where the sensing electrode 300 is connected to thewire 400. The first ground electrode 510 may prevent static electricityor ESD in the touch panel. The static electricity or ESD may move alonga path of the first ground electrode 510 so that the static electricityor ESD can be prevented from being introduced into the touch panel.

One end of the first ground electrode 510 may be electrically connectedto the printed circuit board 700. The first ground electrode 510 may bewithdrawn to a top end or a bottom end of the substrate 100. The firstground electrode 510 may be electrically connected to the printedcircuit board 700 so that the ESD in the touch panel may be dischargedas an electric signal. Thus, signal interference can be prevented sothat accuracy and reliability of a touch can be improved.

An overlap part OL may be formed between the first ground electrode 510and the sensing electrode 300. The overlap part OL may be formed in theunactive area UA, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. Accordingto the embodiment, the overlap part OL may be disposed on the printinglayer 200. The overlap part OL disposed on the unactive area UA may belocated closer to the active area AA. The overlap part OL may bedisposed at an inner portion of the unactive area UA.

The overlap part OL may include a third sensing electrode 321 extendingfrom the second sensing electrode 320, a second bridge electrode 331, asecond insulating layer 351 and the first ground electrode 510. Thethird sensing electrode 321 may not be an additional sensing electrode,but may be an extension part extending from the second sensing electrode320. The third sensing electrode 321 may include a first sub-thirdsensing electrode 321 a extending from the second sensing electrode 320and a second sub-third sensing electrode 321 b connected to the wire400. The first sub-third sensing electrode 321 a may be electricallyconnected to the second sub-third sensing electrode 321 b, but theembodiment is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, the unactive area UA may include a left bezel located to aleft of the active area AA and a right bezel located to a right of theactive area AA. The first ground electrodes 510 may be disposed on theleft and right bezels, respectively. An additional first groundelectrode 510 may be provided to connect one end of the first groundelectrode 510 disposed on the left bezel to one end of the first groundelectrode 510 disposed on the right bezel. In other words, when viewedin a top view, the first ground electrode 510 may surround the left,right and bottom (or top) of the active area AA, but the embodiment isnot limited thereto.

The first wires 410 may be disposed in the left and right bezels. Thefirst ground electrode 510 may be disposed on the first wires 410, whichare provided in the left bezel or the right bezel, and all connectionparts of the sensing electrodes 300. In addition, the first groundelectrode 510 may include parts which are parallel to the first wires410 provided in the left bezel or the right bezel.

The second bridge electrode 331, the second insulating layer 351 and thefirst ground electrode 510 may be sequentially laminated in the overlappart OL. The third sensing electrode 321 may be electrically connectedto the second bridge electrode 331. The third sensing electrode 321 maycome into contact with the second bridge electrode 331. The firstsub-third sensing electrode 321 a may be disposed on a top surface ofone side of the second bridge electrode 331 and the second sub-thirdsensing electrode 321 b may be disposed on a top surface of the otherside of the second bridge electrode 331. The first sub-third sensingelectrode 321 a may be electrically connected to the second sub-thirdsensing electrode 321 b through the second bridge electrode 331.

A plurality of overlap parts OL may be disposed on each bezel. The firstground electrode 510 may be disposed on at least one overlap part OL.The first ground electrode 510 may be disposed on all overlap parts OLformed on the left bezel or the right bezel.

The second bridge electrode 331 may be disposed on the printing layer200. The second bridge electrode 331 may include a material the same asor similar to a material of the first bridge electrode 330. The secondbridge electrode 331 may be formed simultaneously with the first bridgeelectrode 330 through the same process.

The second insulating layer 351 may be disposed on the second bridgeelectrode 331. The second insulating layer 351 may be disposed on thetop surface of the second bridge electrode 331 between the firstsub-third sensing electrode 321 a and the second sub-third sensingelectrode 321 b formed on the second bridge electrode 331. At least apart of the first sub-third sensing electrode 321 a may be disposed onthe second insulating layer 351. In addition, at least a part of thesecond sub-third sensing electrode 321 b may be disposed on the secondinsulating layer 351.

The second insulating layer 351 may include a material the same as orsimilar to a material of the first insulating layer 350. The secondinsulating layer 351 may be formed simultaneously with the firstinsulating layer 350 through the same process.

The first sub-third sensing electrode 321 a may extend from the secondsensing electrode 320 to the unactive area UA. The third sensingelectrode 321 may include a material the same as or similar to amaterial of the second sensing electrode 320. The third sensingelectrode 321 may be formed simultaneously with the second sensingelectrode 320 through the same process. The first wire 410 may beconnected to one end of the second sub-third sensing electrode 321 b.Thus, an electric signal may be applied to the second sensing electrode320 formed in the active area AA.

The first ground electrode 510 may be disposed on the second insulatinglayer 351. The first ground electrode 510 may include a material thesame as or similar to a material of the wire 400. The electric shortbetween the first ground electrode 510 and the second bridge electrode331 may be prevented. In the overlap part OL, the first ground electrode510 may overlap with the second bridge electrode 331 without theelectric short. The first ground electrode 510 may extend along thesensing electrode 300. The first ground electrode 510 may extend alongone side of the substrate 100. The length of the first ground electrode510 may be at least equal to or longer than the length of the wire.Accordingly, the first ground electrode 510 may effectively prevent thecoupling between the sensing electrode and the wire in each channel andmay improve accuracy of touch.

In addition, the uniform touch sensitivity may be achieved regardless ofthe touch positions. The non-uniform sensing, which signifies that thetouch to an outer portion of the substrate 100 is sensitively detectedand the touch to the center portion of the substrate 100 isinsensitively detected, may be prevented. Accordingly, the hoveringfunction may be accurately recognized and accuracy of the proximal touchand the glove touch may be improved.

A second ground electrode 520 may be further disposed at an outermostportion of the substrate 100. Since the second ground electrode 520 isdisposed along an edge of the substrate 100, the static electricity orESD can be prevented from being introduced into the touch panel. Thesecond ground electrode 520 may be disposed along an entire edge of thesubstrate 100.

Although it has been described that the first bridge electrode 330, thefirst insulating layer 350 and the sensing electrodes 310 and 320 aresequentially laminated, the embodiment is not limited thereto. As shownin FIG. 4, the sensing electrodes 310 and 320, the first insulatinglayer 350 and the first bridge electrode 330 may be sequentiallylaminated. That is, the third sensing electrode 321 may be integrallyformed without being divided into first and second-sub sensingelectrodes. In this case, the third sensing electrode 321 extending fromthe second sensing electrode 320 may be disposed under the first groundelectrode 510.

The overlap part OL may include the third sensing electrode 321extending from the second sensing electrode 320 and the secondinsulating layer 351 disposed on the third sensing electrode 321.Different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the bridge electrode maynot be disposed in the overlap part OL. In this case, the first groundelectrode 510 may be disposed on the second insulating layer 351.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first ground electrode 510 may be disposed onthe active area AA. The first ground electrode 510 may overlap with thesensing electrode 300 in the overlap part OL and the overlap part OL maybe disposed on the active area AA. The first ground electrode 510 mayinclude a material the same as or similar to a material of the sensingelectrode 300. The first ground electrode 510 may be prevented frombeing viewed in the active area AA.

Since the first ground electrode 510 is disposed on the active area AA,a larger active area AA may be obtained. Since the first groundelectrode 510 is not viewed from the outside, the printing layer tocover the first ground electrode 510 may not be required, so that thelarger active area AA may be obtained. Thus, limitation of design causedby the bezel may be solved.

The second ground electrode 520 may be further disposed on the unactivearea UA at the outermost portion of the substrate 100. The second groundelectrode 520 may be disposed on the printing layer 200 such that thesecond ground electrode 520 may not be viewed from the outside. Thefirst ground electrode 510 and the second ground electrode 520 mayinclude the same material. That is, the first ground electrode 510 mayinclude a material, which is not viewed from the outside, and the secondground electrode 520 may include a material the same as or similar to amaterial of the wire 400.

Referring to FIG. 6, the insulating layer 352 may be disposed on theentire surface of the active area AA and the overlap part OL in thestructure of FIG. 3. In other words, the first insulating layer 350 andthe second insulating layer 351 may be connected with each other, sothat the first insulating layer 350 and the second insulating layer 351may be replaced with the insulating layer 352. In this case, theinsulating layer 352 may include a hole h. The first bridge electrode330 may be electrically connected to the second sensing electrode 320through the hole h.

Referring to FIG. 7, the insulating layer 352 may be disposed on theentire surface of the active area AA and the overlap part OL in thestructure of FIG. 4. In other words, the first insulating layer 350 (seeFIG. 3) and the second insulating layer 351 (see FIG. 3) may beconnected with each other, so that the first insulating layer 350 andthe second insulating layer 351 may be replaced with the thirdinsulating layer 352. In this case, the third insulating layer 352 mayinclude a plurality of holes h. The first bridge electrode 330 may beelectrically connected to the second sensing electrode 320 through theholes h. In addition, the first bridge electrode 330 may be electricallyconnected to the third sensing electrode 321 through the holes h. Thus,the second sensing electrode 320 may be electrically connected to thethird sensing electrode 321 through the first bridge electrode 330.

Meanwhile, the first sub-third sensing electrode 321 a and the secondsub-third sensing electrode 321 b may be disposed on the thirdinsulating layer 352 and the second bridge electrode 331 may be disposedunder the third insulating layer 352. The first sub-third sensingelectrode 321 a may be electrically connected to the second bridgeelectrode 331 through the hole of the third insulating layer 352. Inaddition, the second sub-third sensing electrode 321 b may beelectrically connected to the second bridge electrode 331 through thehole of the third insulating layer 352. Thus, the first sub-thirdsensing electrode 321 a may be electrically connected to the secondsub-third sensing electrode 321 b through the second bridge electrode331.

Referring to FIG. 8, a cover substrate 101 may be further provided onthe substrate 100. The cover substrate 101 may be combined with thesubstrate 100 by a transparent adhesive 600, such as optical clearadhesive (OCA). The touch panel according to the embodiment may includethe cover substrate 101 and the substrate 100 formed on the coversubstrate 101.

In addition, the first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed on thecover substrate 101 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposedon the substrate 100. The first sensing electrode 310 extending in onedirection and the wire 400 connected to the first sensing electrode 310may be disposed on one surface of the cover substrate 101. In this case,the first ground electrode may be disposed on the overlap part where thefirst sensing electrode 310 is connected to the wire 400.

The second sensing electrode 320 extending in the direction differentfrom the extension direction of the first sensing electrode 310 and thewire 400 connected to the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposedon one surface of the substrate 100. In this case, the first groundelectrode may be disposed on the overlap part where the second sensingelectrode 320 is connected to the wire 400.

Referring to FIG. 9, the touch panel according to the embodiment mayinclude the cover substrate 101 and the substrate 100 formed on thecover substrate 101. The first sensing electrode 310 and the secondsensing electrode 320 may be disposed on the substrate 100.

The first sensing electrode 310 extending in one direction and the wire400 connected to the first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed on onesurface of the substrate 101. The first ground electrode may be disposedon the overlap part where the first sensing electrode 310 is connectedto the wire 400.

The second sensing electrode 320 extending in the direction differentfrom the extension direction of the first sensing electrode 310 and thewire 400 connected to the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposedon the other surface of the substrate 100. In this case, the firstground electrode may be disposed on the overlap part where the secondsensing electrode 320 is connected to the wire 400.

Referring to FIG. 10, the touch panel according to the embodiment mayinclude the cover substrate 101, a first substrate 102 formed on thecover substrate 101 and a second substrate 103 formed on the firstsubstrate 102. The first ground electrode may be disposed on the overlappart where the first sensing electrode 310 is connected to the wire 400.

In addition, the first sensing electrode 310 may be disposed on thefirst substrate 102 and the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposedon the second substrate 103. The first sensing electrode 310 extendingin one direction and the wire 400 connected to the first sensingelectrode 310 may be disposed on one surface of the first substrate 102.

The second sensing electrode 320 extending in the direction differentfrom the extension direction of the first sensing electrode 310 and thewire 400 connected to the second sensing electrode 320 may be disposedon one surface of the second substrate 103. In this case, the firstground electrode may be disposed on the overlap part where the secondsensing electrode 320 is connected to the wire 400.

A touch device including the touch panel coupled with a display panelwill be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13.

Referring to FIG. 11, the touch device according to the embodiment mayinclude the display panel 2000 and the touch panel 1000 disposed on thedisplay panel 2000. For example, the display panel 2000 may be combinedwith the touch panel 1000 by an adhesive layer 700 including opticalclear adhesive (OCA).

Although FIG. 11 shows the touch panel 1000 including the coversubstrate 101, the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 103, inwhich the cover substrate 101, the first substrate 102 and the secondsubstrate 103 are combined with each other by the adhesive layer 700,the first sensing electrode 310 is disposed on the first substrate 102and the second sensing electrode 320 is disposed on the secondsubstrate, and the display panel 2000 combined with the touch panel 1000by the adhesive layer 700, the embodiment is not limited thereto. Thetouch panel according to various embodiments may be combined with thedisplay panel 2000.

When the display panel 2000 is a liquid crystal display panel, thedisplay panel 2000 may be formed in a structure in which a 1st′substrate 2100 including a thin film transistor (TFT) and a pixelelectrode is combined with a 2nd′ substrate 2200 including color filterlayers while a liquid crystal layer is interposed between the 1st′ and2nd′ substrates 2100 and 2200.

In addition, the display panel 2000 may be a liquid crystal displaypanel having a COT (color filter on transistor) structure in which athin film transistor, a color filter, and a black matrix are formed onthe 1st′ substrate 2100, and the 1st′ substrate 2100 is combined withthe 2nd′ substrate 2200 while a liquid crystal layer is interposedbetween the 1st′ and 2nd′ substrates 2100 and 2200. In other words, thethin film transistor may be formed on the 1st′ substrate 2100, aprotective layer may be formed on the thin film transistor, and thecolor filter layer may be formed on the protective layer. In addition, apixel electrode making contact with the thin film transistor is formedon the 1st′ substrate 2100. In this case, in order to improve theaperture rate and simplify the mask process, the black matrix may beomitted, and the common electrode may serve as the black matrix.

In addition, when the display panel 2000 is a liquid crystal panel, thedisplay device may further include a backlight unit for providing lightfrom the rear surface of the display panel 2000.

When the display panel 2000 is an organic electroluminescent displaypanel, the display panel 2000 may include a self-light emitting devicewhich does not require any additional light source. The display panel2000 includes a thin film transistor formed on the 1st′ substrate 2100and an organic light emitting device (OLED) making contact with the thinfilm transistor. The OLED may include an anode, a cathode and an organiclight emitting layer formed between the anode and the cathode. Inaddition, the 2nd′ substrate 2200 may be further formed on the organiclight emitting device to perform the function of an encapsulationsubstrate for encapsulation.

Referring to FIG. 12, the touch device according to another embodimentmay include a touch panel integrally formed with the display panel. Inother words, the substrate to support at least one sensing electrode maybe omitted.

In detail, at least one sensing electrode may be provided on at leastone surface of the display panel 2000. The display panel 2000 mayinclude the 1st′ substrate 2100 and the 2nd′ substrate 2200. That is, atleast one sensing electrode may be disposed one surface of at least oneof the 1st′ substrate 2100 and the 2nd′ substrate 2200.

Referring to FIG. 12, the first sensing electrode 310 may be provided onthe top surface of the display panel 2000. In addition, a first wireconnected with the first sensing electrode 310 may be provided. Thesecond sensing electrode 320 and the substrate 100, on which the secondwire is disposed, may be disposed on the display panel 200 on which thefirst sensing electrode 310 is disposed. The adhesive layer 700 may bedisposed between the substrate 100 and the display panel 2000.

Although the drawings show the second sensing electrode 320 formed onthe top surface of the first substrate 102 and the cover substrate 101formed on the first substrate 102 while interposing the adhesive layer700 therebetween, the embodiment is not limited thereto. For instance,the second sensing electrode 320 may be formed on a rear surface of thefirst substrate 102 and the cover substrate 101 may be omitted. In thiscase, the first substrate 102 may serve as the cover substrate.

The embodiments may not be limited to the drawings and it is enough ifit is possible to provide the structure in which the first sensingelectrode 310 is formed on the top surface of the display panel 2000,the first substrate 102 to support the second sensing electrode 320 isdisposed on the display panel 2000 and the substrate 100 is combinedwith the display panel 2000.

In addition, the first substrate 102 may be a polarizing plate. That is,the second sensing electrode 320 may be provided on the top surface orthe bottom surface of the polarizing plate. Thus, the second sensingelectrode 320 may be integrally formed with the polarizing plate.

In addition, a polarizing plate separated from the first substrate 102may be provided. In this case, the polarizing plate may be disposedunder the first substrate 102. For instance, the polarizing plate may bedisposed between the first substrate 102 and the display panel 2000. Inaddition, the polarizing plate may be disposed on the first substrate102.

The polarizing plate may be a linear polarizing plate or ananti-reflection polarizing plate. For example, when the display panel2000 is a liquid crystal panel, the polarizing plate may be a linearpolarizing plate. In addition, when the display panel 2000 is an organicelectroluminescent display panel, the polarizing plate may be ananti-reflection polarizing plate.

Referring to FIG. 13, the touch device according to another embodimentmay include a touch panel formed integrally with the display panel. Forexample, a sensing electrode provided in the active area to serve as asensor which senses a touch and a wire to apply an electrical signal tothe sensing electrode may be formed inside the display panel. In detail,at least one sensing electrode or at least one wire may be formed insidethe display panel.

The display panel may include the 1^(st)′ substrate 2100 and the 2^(nd)′substrate 2200. In this case, at least one of the first and secondsensing electrodes 310 and 320 may be interposed between the 1^(st)′substrate 2100 and the 2^(nd)′ substrate 2200. In other words, at leastone sensing electrode may be provided on at least one surface of the1^(st)′ substrate 2100 or the 2^(nd)′ substrate 2200.

Referring to FIG. 13, the first sensing electrode 310 and the first wiremay be provided between the 1^(st)′ substrate 2100 and the 2^(nd)′substrate 2200. In addition, the second sensing electrode 320 and thesecond wire may be disposed on the substrate 100. The substrate 100 maybe disposed on the display panel including the 1^(st)′ substrate 2100and the 2^(nd)′ substrate 2200. In other words, the first sensingelectrode 310 and the first wire may be provided inside the displaypanel and the second sensing electrode 320 and the second wire may beprovided outside the display panel.

The first sensing electrode 310 and the first wire may be provided onthe top surface of the 1^(st)′ substrate 2100 or the rear surface of the2^(nd)′ substrate 2200. In addition, the adhesive layer may be disposedbetween the first substrate 102 and the display panel. In this case, thefirst substrate 102 may serve as the cover substrate.

Although the drawings show the configuration in which the second sensingelectrode 320 is disposed on the rear surface of the first substrate102, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The second sensing electrode320 may be disposed on the top surface of the first substrate 102, andthe cover substrate may be further disposed on the first substrate 102while interposing the adhesive layer therebetween.

That is, the embodiments may not be limited to the drawings and it isenough if it is possible to provide the structure in which the firstsensing electrode 310 and the first wire are disposed inside the displaypanel, and the second sensing electrode 320 and the second wire aredisposed outside the display panel.

In addition, the first substrate 102 may be a polarizing plate. That is,the second sensing electrode 320 may be provided on the top surface orthe bottom surface of the polarizing plate. Thus, the second sensingelectrode 320 may be integrally formed with the polarizing plate.

In addition, a polarizing plate separated from the first substrate 102may be provided. In this case, the polarizing plate may be disposedunder the first substrate 102. For instance, the polarizing plate may bedisposed between the first substrate 102 and the display panel 2000. Inaddition, the polarizing plate may be disposed on the first substrate102.

When the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel, and when thesensing electrode is formed on the top surface of the 1^(st)′ substrate2100, the sensing electrode may be formed together with a thin filmtransistor (TFT) or a pixel electrode. In addition, when the sensingelectrode is formed on the rear surface of the 2^(nd)′ substrate 2200, acolor filter layer may be formed on the sensing electrode or the sensingelectrode may be formed on the color filter layer. When the displaypanel is an organic electroluminescent display panel, and when thesensing electrode is formed on the top surface of the 1^(st)′ substrate2100, the sensing electrode may be formed together with a thin filmtransistor or an organic light emitting device.

One example of a touch device employing the touch panel according to theembodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 17. Referringto FIG. 14, a mobile terminal is illustrated as an example of the touchdevice. The mobile terminal may include the active area AA and theunactive area UA. The active area AA is an area in which a touch signalis sensed due to the touch by a finger, and an instruction icon patternpart and a logo may be formed in the unactive area UA.

Referring to FIG. 15, the touch panel may include a flexible touchpanel. Thus, the touch device including the touch panel may be aflexible touch device which may be bent or flex by a hand of a user. Forexample, the flexible touch panel may be applied to a wearable touch.The touch panel may be applied to glasses or watches put on the humanbody to implement the wearable touch.

Referring to FIG. 16, the touch panel may be applied to a vehiclenavigation system as well as the touch device, such as the mobileterminal. Referring to FIG. 17, the touch panel may be applied inside avehicle. In other words, the touch panel may be applied to various partsin the vehicle where the touch panel is applied. Accordingly, the touchpanel is applied to a dashboard as well as a PND (Personal NavigationDisplay), thereby realizing a CID (Center Information Display). However,the embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, the touch panelmay be used in various electronic products.

The embodiment provides a touch panel capable of improving accuracy oftouch and a touch device including the same.

According to the embodiment, there is provided a touch panel including asubstrate; a sensing electrode on the substrate; wires to electricallyconnect the sensing electrode; a first ground electrode between thesensing electrode and the wire; and an overlap part where the firstground electrode overlaps with the sensing electrode.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a touch panelincluding a substrate on which an active area and an unactive area aredefined; a sensing electrode on the active area; a wire disposed on theunactive area to electrically connect the sensing electrode; and a firstground electrode disposed on the active area between the sensingelectrode and the wire.

The embodiment includes the first ground electrode. The first groundelectrode can effectively prevent the coupling between the sensingelectrode and the wire in each channel and can improve accuracy oftouch. In addition, the uniform touch sensitivity can be achievedregardless of the touch positions. Thus, the non-uniform sensing, whichsignifies that the touch to an outer portion of a substrate issensitively detected and the touch to the center portion of thesubstrate is insensitively detected, can be prevented. Accordingly, thehovering function can be accurately recognized and accuracy of theproximal touch and the glove touch can be improved.

In addition, the first ground electrode prevents static electricity orESD in the touch panel. That is, the static electricity or ESD movesalong a path of the first ground electrode, so that the staticelectricity or ESD can be prevented from being introduced into the touchpanel. The first ground electrode is connected to the printed circuitboard so that the ESD in the touch panel can be discharged as anelectrical signal.

Thus, signal interference can be prevented, so that accuracy andreliability of a touch can be improved.

It will be understood that, when a layer (film), a region, a pattern ora structure is referred to as being “on” or “under” a substrate, anotherlayer (film), region, pad or patterns, it can be “directly” or“indirectly” on the other layer (film), region, pattern or structure, orone or more intervening layers may also be present.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A capacitive touch sensor comprising; a substrate including an active area and an inactive area; a first sensing electrode; a second sensing electrode comprising a plurality of second sensing electrode cells spaced apart from each other and a first bridge connecting two adjacent second sensing electrode cells; a connecting electrode provided on the active area; a wire provided on the inactive area; and a second bridge that connects the second sensing electrode with the connecting electrode, wherein the first sensing electrode, second sensing electrode, and the connecting electrode are spaced apart, wherein the first sensing electrode extends in a first direction, wherein the first bridge and the second bridge are spaced apart from each other, wherein the first bridge extends the second sensing electrode in a second direction by connecting the second sensing electrode cells to one another, wherein the connecting electrode is connected to the wire and arranged between the second sensing electrode and the wire, and wherein a length of the first bridge is longer than a length of the second bridge in the second direction.
 2. The capacitive touch sensor of claim 1, wherein a width of the connecting electrode is less than a width of one of the second sensing electrode cells in the first and second directions.
 3. The capacitive touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second sensing electrodes are provided on the same surface of the substrate.
 4. The capacitive touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes a flat portion and a curved portion.
 5. The capacitive touch sensor of claim 4, wherein at least one edge of the substrate is bent.
 6. The capacitive touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising a cover substrate, wherein the cover substrate includes a flat portion and a curved portion.
 7. The capacitive touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second sensing electrodes and the second bridge are made of different materials.
 8. The capacitive touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising a printing layer on the inactive area.
 9. The capacitive touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the first sensing electrode, the second sensing electrode, and the connecting electrode are provided on the same surface of the substrate.
 10. The capacitive touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer provided between the first sensing electrode and the first bridge.
 11. A touch device comprising; a first substrate; a thin film transistor provided on the first substrate; an organic light emitting device provided on the thin film transistor; and a capacitive touch sensor on the organic light emitting device, wherein the capacitive touch sensor comprises: a substrate including an active area and an inactive area; a first sensing electrode; a second sensing electrode comprising a plurality of second sensing electrode cells spaced apart from each other and a first bridge connecting two adjacent second sensing electrode cells; a connecting electrode provided on the active area; a wire provided on the inactive area; and a second bridge connects the second sensing electrode with the connecting electrode, wherein the first sensing electrode, the second sensing electrode, and the connecting electrode are spaced apart, wherein the first sensing electrode extends in a first direction, wherein the first bridge and the second bridge are spaced apart from each other, wherein the first bridge extends the second sensing electrode in a second direction by connecting the second sensing electrode cells to one another, wherein the connecting electrode is connected to the wire and arranged between the second sensing electrode and the wire, and wherein a length of the first bridge is longer than a length of the second bridge in the second direction.
 12. The touch device of claim 11, wherein a width of the connecting electrode is less than a width of one of the second sensing electrode cells in the first and second directions.
 13. The touch device of claim 11, wherein the first and second sensing electrodes are provided on the same surface of the substrate.
 14. The touch device of claim 11, wherein the substrate includes a flat portion and a curved portion.
 15. The touch device of claim 14, wherein at least one edge of the substrate is bent.
 16. The touch device of claim 11, further comprising a cover substrate, wherein the cover substrate includes a flat portion and a curved portion.
 17. The touch device of claim 11, wherein the first and second sensing electrodes and the second bridge are made of different materials.
 18. The touch device of claim 11, further comprising a printing layer on the inactive area.
 19. The touch device of claim 11, wherein the first sensing electrode, the second sensing electrode, and the connecting electrode are provided on the same surface of the substrate.
 20. The touch device of claim 11, further comprising an insulating layer provided between the first sensing electrode and the first bridge. 